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20 A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY
took honours there, frequented the best society, followed with a
kind of proud obsequiousness all the tufts of the university, and
left it owing exactly two thousand pounds. Then there came
storms at home; fury on the part of the stern old "governor";
and final payment of the debt. But while this settlement was
pending, Master George had contracted many more debts among
bill-discounters, and was glad to fly to the Continent as tutor
to young Lord Cinqbars, in whose company he learned every
one of the vices in Europe ; and having a good natural genius,
and a heart not unkindly, had used these qualities in such an
admirable manner as to be at twenty-seven utterly ruined in purse
and principle—an idler, a spendthrift, and a glutton. He was
free of his money; would spend his last guinea for a sensual
gratification ; would borrow from his neediest friend ; had no kind
of conscience or remorse left, but believed himself to be a goodnatured
devil-may-care fellow ; had a good deal of wit, and indisputably
good manners, and a pleasing, dashing frankness in
conversation with men. I should like to know how many such
scoundrels our universities have turned out; and how much ruin
has been caused by that accursed system which is called in England
" the education of a gentleman." Go, my son, for ten years to a
public school, that "world in miniature;" learn "to fight for
yourself" against the time when your real struggles shall begin.
Begin to be selfish at ten years of age ; study for other ten years ;
get a competent knowledge of boxing, swimming, rowing, and
cricket, with a pretty knack of Latin hexameters and a decent
smattering of Greek plays,—do this and a fond father shall bless
you—bless the two thousand pounds which he has spent in
acquiring all these benefits for you. And, besides, what else have
you not learned? You have been many hundreds of times to
chapel, and have learned to consider the religious service performed
there as the vainest parade in the world. If your father is a
grocer, you have been beaten for his sake, and have learned to be
ashamed of him. You have learned to forget (as how should you
remember, being separated from them for three-fourths of your
time ?) the ties and natural affections of home. You have learned,
if you have a kindly heart and an open hand, to compete with
associates much more wealthy than yourself; and to consider money
as not much, but honour—the honour of dining and consorting with
your betters—as a great deal. All this does the public-school and
college boy learn ; and woe be to his knowledge ! Alas, what
natural tenderness and kindly clinging filial affection is he taught to
trample on and despise ! My friend Brandon had gone through this
process of education, and had been irretrievably ruined by it—his